As Eric and I packed for our weeklong trip to the Cape, we both felt it was necessary to box up some of our liquor cabinet. What a shame it would be if we wanted to make a drink with vermouth in it, only to find we had none! Our traveling bar was chock-full of bottles of Aperol, St. Germain, Pimm's, and assorted infused syrups and bitters. Over the next seven days, more than a few of those were emptied. We were very productive.

Unlike the traditional Pimm's Cup, which is a simple concoction of Pimm's topped with lemon-lime soda, I decided to use tonic and add a splash of Aperol to kick things up a notch. A squeeze of lemon and a cucumber garnish turns this into the perfect late summer beverage. It almost makes you forget how quickly this summer is flying by.